The Gold Coast

I have owned 'The Gold Coast' in paperback for years, but never got around to reading it. Then I saw the sequel - 'The Gate House' - in the book store and decided to read 'The Gold Coast' in audio form, so I downloaded it.

I have read all of DeMille's novels except for two, so decided to complete the cycle. I have enjoyed his other works, and have even read some of them twice or more.

This novel rises so far above his more recent works as to have been written by a different author. Not only is it a great read from the standpoint of excitement and suspense, but it's a grand love story, and future generations will recognize it not only as popular fiction, but also as great literature.

My wife doesn't read audio books, but I have insisted that she read my paperback version so we can each share the experiences together. The characters are so well developed, especially the narrator John Sutter and his wife Susan, that it's quite difficult not realizing they are fictional.

Just a little caution. There are some erotic scenes, so younger readers should defer reading until they are able to understand the context in which they are written rather than being tittilated by their explicitness.

In summary, this book had such a profound effect on me that I just had to download 'The Gate House' and began reading immediately!

I maintain a library of almost 2,000 novels, and I only get rid of those I don't intend to read again. This one will stay in my library until my dying day, and I will encourage my adult children to read it!

Excellent Book! A fast-paced romance / thriller.

You will laugh, you will cry.

Having read all of Nelson Deville's books on Audible, this newly added book (to Audible) was a no-brainer purchase.

This book was originally published in about 1991 (as far as I can tell). Separate from the book is an introduction by the author, he believes that that this book will weather the test of time better than any of his other works. No doubt this will be true.

The genre of the book is a TRAGITY (i.e. Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet").

Be prepared that the book is very different than his other books (i.e. The Lion's Game), But just as good!

Don't buy this book if you expect a clean happy ending where the hero defeats the bad guy and everyone goes home happy.

I also highly recommend the recently published sequel to this book "The Gate House". Lucky for you that you don't have to wait 20 years wondering about the main characters and their heartacke.

Even though it's not Scott Brick (who normally reads Mr. DeMille's excellent novels)this time, Christian Rummel does a very, very fine job of making the extraordinary characters in this book come to life.

"The Gold Coast" is probably Nelson DeMille's best-known book, with a wise-cracking first-person narrator (not John Corey, hero of some other DeMille bestsellers) who gets drawn into some serious neighborhood and marital problems. A story that will make you laugh and cry while keeping you glued to your headphones or your car stereo, amazingly read by Mr. Rummel.

As a lot of other Audible customers probably did, I downloaded "The Gold Coast" before starting on Nelson DeMille's follow-up novel to that story, "The Gate House", to refreshen my memories of the book I first read in the early 1990's. What a great re-discovery in early 2009! Highly recommended!

This book was selected by my book club this month, so I listened to it out of obligation. While the story line is terrific and the characters are completely fleshed out and real, the most interesting thing is the narration. Christian Rummel does an amazing job. After more than 20 hours of listening to him, when the book was done, I missed him. Nelson DeMille gets credit for the story -- as he has since it came out. But Rummel gets the glory. It is brilliantly read.

The reader misses all of the author's wit. I read this book when it was originally published but wanted to listen to it before I listened to "The Gate House". The book is great, as are all of DeMille's. Scott Brick read "The Lion's Game" and did a much, much better job. It seems like this reader didn't get any direction and he obviously hadn't read the book. His female voices all sound like drag queens. It's a shame.

I loved Plum Island, The Charm School and The Lion's Game. This book is a totally different genre. I used my book credit for the reason it had such rave reviews. Although I prefer more suspense, action, and foreign intrigue, this book has an excellent plot-well developed. Characters are aptly described. Easy for the listener to visualize all that DeMille is describing. The author takes a long time in Part 1 in the character development and misc. scene and event descriptions, but it does all add to the overall picture. Be patient with Part 1 of the book. I had to "re-listen" to several parts of Part 1 as it is very slow in getting started. Parts 2 & 3 contain faster plot development and more interesting facets of the story. "Hang in There" - you will find this book a page turner as it progresses. Am starting to listen to the sequel, The Gate House, today. Need to find out what happens to these unfortunate souls...................I wasn't that pleased with the reader, but then, I'm a Scott Brick fan. The reader does do an excellent job of portraying the snobbish, somewhat wimpy, husband. He also portrays the mafia characters very well. Again, "Hang in There" through Part 1 and you won't be disappointed.

I had listened to Nelson DeMille's other books and finally decided to listen to The Gold Coast. I have listened to over 500 books in the past few years and read many more before that. I have to say that this was my most favorite book ever. It is such an interesting story and DeMille's humor just cannot be matched. Also the narration was superb. I enjoyed The Gate House as well. My sister also listened to them and immediately listened to both of them again. She said they were even better when heard the second time. I cannot recommend them enough.

Like being there!

Descriptions of the days when the Gold Coast was thriving

Consistence of his personal outrightness

Look behind the spoken meaning

Compelling. Just couldn't stop listening.

Epic novel.

Perfect representation

A criminal wants the respect of the rich

This novel is DeMille's best, and great fun. A blue-blood Long Island lawyer discovers his new neighbor is the head of the Mafia. Frank Bellarosa, the Mafia don, is a great character. John Sutter, the narrator, is very funny, making this novel truly laugh-out-loud hysterical. When Bellarosa and Suther are together, it is total entertainment. This novel has humor, love, sex, mystery, an intriguing friendship, and a fun plot that is not predictable. I read the book many years ago, and enjoyed listening to this just as much as I liked reading it. I believe that TV's Tony Soprano was taken from the Bellarosa character, with Frank Bellarosa even more interesting. This story is pure fun, and the reader is great.